To: Mr. Hovik Abrahamyan, Chairman of National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia; Mr. Tigran Sargsyan, Prime Minister of Armenia; Mr. Spartak Seyranyan, Minister of Education of the Republic of Armenia; Mr. Gevorg Danielyan, Minister of Justice of the Republic of Armenia; Mr. Alik Sargsyan, Head of the Police of the Republic of Armenia; Mr. Armen Harutyunyan, The Human Rights Defender of the Republic of Armenia; Mr. Vazgen Manukyan, Chairman of the Public Council of Republic of Armenia; Ms. Benita Ferrero-Waldner, European Union Commissioner for External Relations and European Neighbourhood Policy; Ms. Consuelo Vidal, United Nations Resident Coordinator for the Republic of Armenia; Human Rights Watch 

Dear Sir/Madam, 

We are writing to you to express our concern that the Erebouni Criminal Investigation Department has charged Ms Mariam Sukhudyan, an environmental and civic activist, with false denunciation (article 333, paragraph 2 of the Criminal Code of Armenia), and request that the charges against her are dropped. 
а 
The charges were made after a group of young volunteers, including Ms Sukhudyan, publicly highlighted the problems at the Noubarashen boarding school N11 for children with special needs in Yerevan, including the poor level of education, poor food, the use of physical punishment, and sexual assault of female pupils. 
а 
It is unacceptable that those who sought to highlight these problems have been punished, instead of a thorough and impartial investigation of the issues being carried out. 
а 
Some of us have had a chance to meet Ms Sukhudyan in person and to learn about her activities, and we believe that active participation in improving social and environmental problems is something that should be encouraged, not punished. 
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We request from Armenian state institutions to conduct a full and fair investigation, aimed at addressing the problems in Noubarashen boarding school N11, not at calling into question the motivations of those who raised the issues. We further call on you to ensure that the school in question, as well as other schools, are regularly monitored to ensure an adequate level of education, food, sanitary conditions and the full protection of pupilsТ personal safety and rights. 
а 
We appeal to international organizations located inside our country as well as abroad to use their mandate and leverage to ensure protection of human rights and access to justice in Armenia. 

Sincerely, 

The Undersigned 


 

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Watch was created by participants of Ecotopia Biketour and the Mnogo u Malom Multicultural Festival, Croatia and written by Sven Jaros (sven.jaros@gmx.net).